Amir to Captain Karachi Kings in Do-or-Die Match Against Zalmi

LAHORE: With injury-stricken Shahid Afridi and Imad Wasim dropped out of the key Pakistan Super League match today (Wednesday), Muhammad Amir has been named as the stand-in captain to lead the side against Peshawar Zalmi.

Shahid Afridi will miss the PSL eliminator against Zalmi after his knee injury aggravated, while Imad Wasim (the Kings skipper)had suffered a mild concussion after he injured himself while running backwards from mid off to take a catch in a match against Lahore Qalandars on March 11.

Since then, he (Imad) is not playing and has been advised rest by the doctors.

Under the unavailability of Shahid Afridi and Eoin Morgan, Karachi Kings have got permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board to include Twenty20 specialist Mukhtar Ahmed for today’s game as well as spinner Zulfiqar Babar and Karachi youngster Danish Aziz.

Karachi Kings are also pinning hopes that their batsmen Babar Azam and Khurram Manzoor return to form after failing in the last game against Islamabad United while bowlers Mohammad Amir and Usman Shinwari had given them crucial wickets.

Zalmi had ousted Karachi Kings from the second eliminator on their way to the final last year and have also beaten them in the reverse match after losing the first game. They lead head to head with 5-4.

The triumphant of today’s match will face Islamabad United in the final in Karachi on March 25.